DJAKARTA, 31 August. - (ANA) - A volcano has erupted on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, sending a column of black ash and smoke 11,482 feet into the sky from the mountain's summit.

 

Mount Sinabung, located in the Karo district of North Sumatra, began erupting at 10.17am local time on Monday, said Lana Saria, the head of the national geological agency.

 

There have been no immediate reports of casualties, evacuations or flight disruptions in the region. However, residents and tourists have been advised to avoid activities in nearby villages in Karo and areas within six kilometres (3.7 miles) of the summit.

 

Roads, vehicles and buildings in several villages in Karo affected by the eruption were covered in grey ash, prompting local authorities to hand out masks to residents.

 

Officials raised the volcano alert level to "Watch" - the second-highest level for volcanic activity - which expanded the safe zone around the 2,600-metre (8,530-foot) mountain.

 

"This eruption is considered an initial eruption, and it is possible that a larger eruption could occur," Ms Saria said.

 

The geological agency previously recorded visual evidence of Mount Sinabung’s increased activity in mid-August - including dozens of earthquakes - and expanded the recommended radius for public activities.

 

About 30,000 people have been forced to leave their homes around Sinabung over the past few years because of volcanic activity.

 

Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 280 million people with frequent seismic activity, and Sinabung is among more than 120 active volcanoes. The country is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.  - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/31 August 2026 - - -